Lump on both ear flaps

[hamwheat]

I have an eleven year old female ladbrador retriever.  Within the last 2 years I have noticed a lump on the left side of her rib cage.  I was told from other lab owners that it probably was a fatty tumor and I took notice since we are financially strapped as my husband recently had a life saving organ transplant and are both unemployed.  All seemed to be well, but I have now noticed within the last 6 months that she developed a few more under her arm pits(?) and now they have seem to have rapidly multipied with now the newest being one in each ear flap.and one under her chin.  Do you think these are still fatty tumors?  I guess whatever the outcome, we will let her be.  She is the sweetest thing and the love of our lives and has helped the family through some very difficult times.  Just looking for some words of comfort.  Thank you and kind regards.

[hamwheat]

Thanks Ginger for your thoughts...Getting Samantha checked out would be the best scenario but as I stated, we are financially strapped.  We don't even have health insurance for the family.  Anyhow, I will definately look into the charitable option.  Thank you for the suggeation.  Maybe the vet can suggest an organization.  I did not check her lumps out.  I was afraid the squeeze them.  I will give her a quick exam. Thank you again for your prompt response..and here is to lumpy dogs!!

[ginger899]

By the way my dog's breast lump was harmless. It often is the case, as only a small percentage of lumps are actually cancerous, even though that is the first thing we find ourselves thinking of! But to be sure -ask the vet

[ginger899]

I can't tell you exactly what the lumps are. The real answer is to get her checked out with a ve?. Are these lumps soft and very rounded in feel? Or are they mobile? If so, they COULD be lipomas or harmless cysts? But of course I don't want to give you the wrong idea. The only way to tell for sure is to get them examined, and maybe even a fine needle aspiration on them to be sure.
(I know. I have a lumpy dog, God bless her. I have seen and felt so many dog-lumps this last few years!) But every single one gets checked with the vet even though I am almost always pretty sure what they are if and when new ones appear.

It's tricky when you don't have much money. I know. For my dog's last lump (a breast lump) she needed a needle aspiration which cost £100 (about 150 dollars?) I had to go overdrawn at the bank and eat nettle and lentil soup for a week!
Is there some way you can arrange any kind of payment plan with your vet? Or is there any charitable help you could get?